Biden Chief of Staff: "COVID-19 is Very Serious... Local Governments Must Take Action"

"The Current Government Does Not Lead the Response... Biden Faces Limits on What Can Be Done Now"

President-elect Joe Biden (right) and Ron Klain, the designated White House Chief of Staff
[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy New York=Special Correspondent Baek Jong-min] Ron Klain, who has been nominated as the first Chief of Staff for President-elect Joe Biden, has called on each state and local government to actively respond to the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

On the 15th (local time), Klain said in an interview with NBC, "The situation is very serious right now. Biden warned during the September presidential campaign that if the administration did not strengthen measures, the United States would face a very dark winter."

He emphasized the need for not only state and local governments but also Americans to strengthen COVID-19 measures from now until the inauguration.

This request is based on the fact that, under the U.S. governance system, most COVID-19 response strategies lie with state and local governments rather than the federal government. There are many points noting that even the mask-wearing mandate promised by President-elect Biden is beyond the federal government's authority.

He mentioned that since President Trump and the current administration will not "lead" (the COVID response), "leadership must come from state and local officials."

He also pointed out, "Biden is not the president yet," and "there is not much that can be done right now except to repeatedly send the message that all Americans and state and local governments need to strengthen measures immediately to change the situation."

Klain raised his level of concern, saying, "It will change on January 20, but right now we are facing a worsening crisis," and "It is getting worse and worse."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.